Last Updated on August 21, 2025 by Christine Kaaloa
Are you an American traveler with a sense of adventure, eager to explore the rich cultural tapestry, stunning landscapes, and warm hospitality of Pakistan?
Pakistan has gradually opened its doors to tourism, offering an unforgettable experience for those seeking an off-the-beaten-path journey. Before you embark on your exciting trip, you need to secure your Pakistan tourist visa. Don’t worry; I’ve got you covered with this comprehensive step by step guide of getting your Pakistan visa for U.S. citizens.
Step-by-Step Process: Applying for your Pakistan Visa for U.S. Citizens
Table of Contents: How to Apply for a Pakistan Tourist Visa for U.S. citizens
- 1 Step-by-Step Process: Applying for your Pakistan Visa for U.S. Citizens
- 2 Required Documents for Your Pakistan Tourist Visa
- 3 What information does the Pakistan visa application ask for?
- 4 What is a Letter of Invitation and do you need it?
- 5 Two types of Pakistan Visas
- 5.1 Regular Tourist Visa (online application)
- 5.2 What is Tourist in your Inbox?
- 5.3 What if I need to get a Pakistan visa quick?
- 5.4 What if my Pakistan tourist visa application gets rejected or I am asked for an interview at the embassy and it is not in my city?
- 5.5
- 5.6 What if I get denied a visa. Can I still apply for Tourist in your Inbox?
- 5.7 What internet browsers should I use?
- 5.8 What if there is an error in my application ? Does the support email work?
- 6 Common Mistakes when Applying for Pakistan Visa
- 6.1 1. Check back into your visa application until you get your email notifications.
- 6.2 2. Sign up with a Gmail or Yahoo account
- 6.3 3. Keep simple and generic answers.
- 6.4 4. Answer thoroughly
- 6.5 5. Upload documents I sent you, even if the application does not appear like it asks for it.
- 6.6 6. Apply on Firefox
- 6.7 7. Backup plan : Visa in your Inbox
- 7
- 8 Where to apply for your Pakistan Visa?
Here’s a simplified breakdown of the application process:
- Choose Your Visa Type: Decide whether you want the regular tourist visa or the Visa on Arrival (Inbox Visa).
- Gather Documents: Collect all required documents, including your passport, application form, photographs, flight itinerary, hotel reservations, and bank statements.
- Apply Online: For the regular tourist visa, visit the official Pakistani embassy or consulate website to submit your application online. Follow the instructions carefully and upload the necessary documents.
- Pay the Fee: Pay the visa application fee online using the provided payment methods. Keep the payment receipt for your records.
- Wait for Approval: The processing time for the regular tourist visa varies, typically taking around 2 to 4 weeks. But if it is not busy, it can take much less time– I got mine in a couple of days.
For the Visa on Arrival, you’ll receive your visa within minutes upon arrival at the designated Pakistani airports.
Required Documents for Your Pakistan Tourist Visa
No matter which option you choose, you’ll need to gather the following documents. Although there is a a possibility you will not be asked for them also. Nationality and the current state of the Pakistan government may affect the stringency of requirements. It’s best if you just have everything.
- Passport: Your passport should be valid for at least six months from your intended date of entry into Pakistan.
- Visa Application Form: Complete the visa application form accurately. You can find the form on the official website of the Pakistani embassy or consulate in the U.S. Note: You are allowed to start your application process and save it to continue it later.
- Passport-Sized Photographs: Prepare a recent passport-sized photograph meeting the specified size and quality requirements to upload. As you will likely do this process online, a digital photograph will suffice. If your application requires you to come into one of the embassy offices, then you’ll need a print out copy.
- Flight Itinerary: A copy of your round-trip flight itinerary as proof of your travel plans and date. (Although I was not asked for it)
- Hotel Reservations: Proof of your accommodation arrangements during your stay in Pakistan. I was not asked to show proof but I needed the information of my first hotel and after that, all the areas/regions that my hotels resided in. I applied the regular way, using a local tour operator and our itinerary plans.
- Bank Statements: Demonstrate your financial ability to cover your expenses while in Pakistan by submitting recent bank statements. As a U.S. citizen, I was not asked for this, but they certainly ask this if your citizenship is one that is questionable. So just prepared with it, if they decide to request it of foreign travelers.
- Invitation Letter by the sponsor or hotel booking details – Update: As of Fall 2024, a Letter of Invitation is no longer required
- Submit your intent to travel/visa application at least 48-72 hours
What information does the Pakistan visa application ask for?
- Personal Information
- Family information
- Employment Details: Your employment status and if you have a Pakistan bank.
- Travel History: Where you’ve traveled within the last three years. Need to know trip start date, duration, city and country.
- Visit Information (and Sponsor information)
- If you get sponsorship through a local tour operator, they will provide you with their: Name, address, phone number, identification number, email. and a Letter of Invitiation.
- Documents- Passport photo, Photograph for visa (see guidelines), Letter of Invitation
What is a Letter of Invitation and do you need it?
Two types of Pakistan Visas
Regular Pakistan Tourist Visa vs. Pakistan Visa on Arrival
When it comes to obtaining your Pakistan tourist visa, you have two options: the regular tourist visa and the recently introduced e-Visa process or (Visa in your Inbox) process. Let’s break down the key differences between the two:
Regular Tourist Visa (online application)
This process involves applying for a visa in advance through the Pakistani embassy. This process goes through a slightly more bureaucratic process, however you may still apply for it online. It requires a Letter of Invitation by a Pakistani tour operator or hotel and you will need to write your itinerary outline of the hotels and regional areas you’ll be staying in Pakistan. The host of your Letter of Invitation may also send a photo of their license and business contact information for you to add to your application. These days, some tour operators will sell you a Letter of Invitation as well. Duration: 3 months
What is Tourist in your Inbox?
Tourist in your Inbox is Pakistan Visa’s (or Pak Visa) a visa that recieves an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) or e-visa. It is still issued by the Government of Pakistan, Ministry of the Interior, so it’s legit. It is like a visa on arrival, however you still need to apply for it advance as airlines may not let you board without one. Designed for fast travel convenience, the Pakistan eVisa allows you to obtain a visa upon arrival at designated Pakistani airports. It’s perfect for travelers who prefer a more spontaneous approach to their journey.
- 30 days
- You must belong to one of 64 tourist friendly country (the U.S. is one of them!).
- Tour operators approved by the Pakistan Directorate of Tourist Services (DTS) can bring Tourist Groups under this category.
- You can enter any port as long as it is an airport.
- Processing time is 48-72 Hours (Working Hours)
- Valid for 90 days. You must use it within this time period that it is issued or it will expire.
- For the most part it will go smoothly; however keep in mind, that with the eVisa you are also a little at the mercy of the immigration officers and there have been traveler reports of officers posing suspicious questions which put your eVisa into “question” (especially if your reference is only a hotel) and then hinting at baksheesh.
- There have been traveler reports of officials overscrutinizing their eVisa, asking a lot of questions, feigning difficulty and asking if the travelers were carrying USD. They were hinting at a bribe. If you are ever in this position –anywhere in Pakistan– pretend you do not know what the officials are talking about. Or carry a dummy wallet with small change in USD. If you reveal you are carrying USD, they will take it. Duration: 3 weeks
What if I need to get a Pakistan visa quick?
You can use Tourist in your Inbox. Processing time is 48-72 Hours (Working Hours) but you must have all your documents.
What if my Pakistan tourist visa application gets rejected or I am asked for an interview at the embassy and it is not in my city?
If you’re not planning to stay longer than 30 days, then you can apply for the tourist in your Inbox e-visa.
You must request your visa application be cancelled by Nadra and once it is cancelled then only you can apply for other category.
What if I get denied a visa. Can I still apply for Tourist in your Inbox?
Yes, you may.
What internet browsers should I use?
While the website doesn’t specify an internet browser to use, it’s been known that Chrome and Safari are not always responsive. Try doing your application on Firefox.
What if there is an error in my application ? Does the support email work?
If there is an error in your application that prevents you from completing your application form, look at what the keyword of the error is. Something will pop up in red to indicate what you’ve not completed. Go through your application thoroughly and make sure everything is filled out.
Even if you think you’ve answered everything correctly, something will be missing if you have a notice in red lettering.
The official Pakistan visa website support email is not great. I tried them and they do not respond immediately… or ever.
Common Mistakes when Applying for Pakistan Visa
1. Check back into your visa application until you get your email notifications.
2. Sign up with a Gmail or Yahoo account
With anything that entails bureaucracy like getting a tourist visa in a foreign country, I like to take the path of least resistance. Sign up on the visa website with a gmail or yahoo account. With private emails, you are reliant upon whether all is good with your private website server. When your server goes down- which is does from time to time- so goes your email. Not getting your email can be stressful, especially when you’re waiting for a visa notifications. With Pakistan visa application, if there is something you are missing in your application, they say they will notify you. When I logged on to check my visa status, I saw a notifcation that my visa was under review and I needed to upload more documents. I never got that email notification, so I was lucky that I logged in at the time I did or I could’ve been rejected.
3. Keep simple and generic answers.
4. Answer thoroughly
5. Upload documents I sent you, even if the application does not appear like it asks for it.
The good news about the documents is that you can upload requested documents after you’ve submitted your application.
So I JUST uploaded the documents and I JUST got my visa approval!
